Chapter 38: Zhu Zhuqing's Strange Behavior
Tang San glanced at Zu Zong with a rather complicated expression.
When it came to Zu Zong, he felt nothing but deep-rooted dislike—an instinctive aversion that came from his very bones.
Strictly speaking, they didn't really have any major grudges between them.
(Author's note: Wrong, little bro. You two have a huge grudge.)
But somehow, it was like their fates were completely out of sync.
Every time Tang San saw Zu Zong, his temper flared up.
His throat would go dry, and his chest would tighten.
If not for the fact that his teacher thought highly of Zu Zong—and because of the relationship between Old Jack and Old Tom—with Tang San's vengeful personality, he would have already assassinated Zu Zong in some dark alley long ago.
Then his gaze shifted to Xiao Wu.
His eyes softened, even becoming tender.
You could almost call it doting.
This girl, whom he had only ever observed from a distance during six years at Nuoding Academy…
She was the one who haunted his dreams over and over again.
Somehow, whenever he saw Xiao Wu, a deep sense of familiarity would rise within him.
Sometimes, that feeling was even more intimate than what he felt toward his drunkard—oh wait, deadbeat—father.
The first time he saw her, he was still trapped in the nightmare of his first spirit ring.
Her figure had just flashed past him, but the impression it left was unforgettable—innocent, pure, lively, adorable.
It was as if she embodied every beautiful word known to man.
Maybe this was what the elders in Tang Sect used to say—"beauty lies in the eye of the beholder."
In that moment, despite having lived two lives, Tang San blushed for the first time just from facing a girl.
From the others, he learned her name—Xiao Wu.
Such a beautiful name.
From that moment on, Tang San shook off his despair, walked out of the shadow of that "Sticky Snake," and began training harder than ever—because he had found the first person he wanted to protect, other than his parents.
Their next encounter was a year later.
She was still her—but now, there was someone else beside her.
That person he hated—Zu Zong.
He had watched helplessly as Xiao Wu clung to Zu Zong's arm, acting all sweet and clingy as they returned to Di Hun Village together.
Tang San could only stand at a distance and watch.
At that moment, how he wished it was his hand she was holding.
His heart shattered—splintered into countless fragments.
The pain was indescribable.
He gritted his teeth but still couldn't bring himself to speak harshly to the girl before him.
Not being good at expressing emotions, he simply said blandly, "Xiao Wu, this has nothing to do with you. This is between me and him."
Xiao Wu instantly realized—he really was blaming her Xiao Zong!
As someone extremely protective of her own, she was furious.
Her face turned bright red, her cheeks puffing out.
"Hmph! That Sticky Snake was chosen by your beloved teacher. You were the one who agreed to it!"
"Xiao Zong only helped you with your spirit ring out of kindness, but instead of blaming your teacher, you shift the blame to Xiao Zong?"
"Hmph! I hate you so much!"
Her words struck Tang San like lightning.
The girl he had longed for—dreamed of—had just said she hated him.
His already plain face turned pale, then dark purple like a pig's liver from sheer frustration.
That day, Tang San once again recalled the terror of being traumatized by the "Sticky Snake."
Suddenly, realization dawned on the others.
Even the usually cold Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling couldn't help but twitch their lips.
As top talents in the soul master world, they were well-read when it came to soul beasts.
And the Sticky Snake… was notorious.
But not "notorious" as in dangerous—more like disgusting.
Everyone knew that the Sticky Snake was a nocturnal predator that fed on rats.
During the day, it just lay around basking in the sun.
Its attack power was low, and to protect itself, it could shed its skin at will, releasing a revolting, rotting smell.
It had very few natural enemies—most carnivorous soul beasts avoided it at all costs.
Only a handful of scavenger-type beasts might bother hunting it when desperate.
Everyone could easily imagine what Blue Silver Grass would look like after absorbing the Sticky Snake's spirit ring… it would probably become some gross "Sticky Grass."
Dai Mubai covered his mouth, trying hard not to laugh.
He patted Tang San on the shoulder and asked, "Tang San, your first spirit ring was really from a Sticky Snake? Doesn't that mean… hahaha—"
He couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.
Zu Zong also really wanted to burst out laughing like a pig, but he held it in.
If he laughed now, it wouldn't be as fun anymore.
He kept up his act of noble righteousness and put on a guilty look as he said, "Xiao San, it's all my fault for not stopping the Grandmaster back then. Since you trusted his theories, I trusted them too, and the result..."
Seeing Zu Zong look so "heartbroken," Xiao Wu also felt bad.
She held Zu Zong's hand and comforted him, "Xiao Zong, don't worry about that guy who can't tell right from wrong. If anyone's to blame, it's that hypocritical, good-for-nothing 'Grandmaster.'"
Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling, standing to the side, both nodded in agreement.
"You—" Tang San was once again rendered speechless by Zu Zong's words.
'He's acting again?!'
That time when his martial spirit awakened.
That time when they enrolled in Nuoding.
That time they hunted for a spirit ring...
And now, worst of all—he actually let Xiao Wu hold his hand again!
"You what? Hurry up and apologize to Xiao Zong!" Xiao Wu snapped angrily.
For once, even Ye Lingling spoke up to defend Zu Zong. "No sense of right and wrong!"
Zhu Zhuqing, who had listened to Xiao Wu's recount of the situation and now "understood" the full story, also gave Tang San a glance.
"You made a mistake. Own up to it," she said calmly.
Seeing even Zhu Zhuqing take this stance, Dai Mubai also felt that Tang San was in the wrong.
Resenting a "good friend" just because of this—it really was inappropriate.
He thought, 'What if it was me next time?'
So he put on the demeanor of Shrek's boss and solemnly declared, "Tang San, friendships like this are hard to come by. Treasure it while you can. Apologize."
The first three girls were fine, but Dai Mubai's final word—"friendship"—nearly made Tang San vomit blood.
"Hmph," he snorted and flung his sleeves as he walked off.
If his teammates couldn't even stand by him, then he didn't want them!
But just as he turned around, Xiao Wu's words echoed in his mind—"Should blame the Grandmaster."
For a moment, doubt stirred in him.
'Could my teacher really be a fraud?'
With that uneasy question weighing on him, Tang San rushed off toward Shrek.
Thus, this reunion of fellow villagers + "friends" + classmates ended on a sour note.
Zhu Zhuqing gave Zu Zong a complicated look.
Then she left behind a single sentence: "I'm heading back first."
Martial soul activated—Netherworld Spirit Cat.
With a few quick flashes, she disappeared into the darkness.
Her speed was no less than Zu Zong's in his normal state.
"Zhuqing… Zhuqing…" Dai Mubai called out, and seeing her leave, he had no interest in staying either.
Without even saying goodbye, he ran off after her.
Watching the three of them walk away, Xiao Wu puffed up her cheeks and muttered, "What a bunch of weirdos. Right, Lingling, Xiao Zong?"
Then she suddenly turned and jumped in front of Zu Zong.
She leaned in close and glared at him, clearly hinting: 'Didn't I do a great job just now? Aren't you going to pat my head and praise me?'
Zu Zong looked at the way this little rabbit was acting all cutesy again and gave a helpless smile.
He reached out his hand and gently patted her head—like petting a puppy—no, a little bunny.
"You, huh…"
At the same time, he began pondering to himself.
'What did Zhu Zhuqing mean with that last look?'
'Why did it feel so much like a melodramatic scene from one of those old soap operas?'
'Could it be… have I met her in a past life?'
With that question lingering in his mind, the three of them walked into the Soto Great Spirit Arena.
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